Ulysses intensifies, can remain typhoon on land; Signal No. 3 up in Metro Manila

PHOTO/Himawari-IR1 via Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Ulysses is still intensifying hours ahead of its predicted landfall on early Thursday morning, with state meteorologists saying that it might remain a typhoon while it crosses the Luzon landmass.

According to the latest updates from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Ulysses now packs maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 195 kph.

It was last plotted 60 kilometers east northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte, and is moving westward — toward Quezon province and Polillo Islands — at a speed of 20 kph.

Pagasa expects Ulysses to make landfall over the Polillo islands between late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, after which it would proceed to the western side of Quezon.  It is expected to cross the Central Luzon landmass, 50 kilometers north of Manila, on Thursday.

As of now, the following areas are under a Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3, which means that wind speeds of 121 kph to 170 kph may be felt:

• southern portion of Quirino (Maddela, Nagtipunan)
• southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castaneda, Dupax Del Norte, Dupax Del Sur)
• Pangasinan
• Central Luzon (Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan)
• Metro Manila
• Calabarzon except some areas in Quezon (Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas)
• northern and central portions of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Tayabas City, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Atimonan, Padre  Burgos, Unisan, Agdangan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Pitogo, Macalelon, Lopez, General Luna, Catanauan, Buenavista, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Calauag, Quezon, Alabat, Perez) including Polillo Islands
• Catanduanes Camarines Norte
• northern portion of Camarines Sur (Del Gallego, Ragay, Lupi, Sipocot, Cabusao, Bombon, Calabanga,   Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan)

Signal No. 2:

• the rest of Quirino
• the rest of Nueva Vizcaya
• southern portion of Benguet (Bokod, Itogon, Tublay, La Trinidad, Sablan, Baguio City, Tuba)
• southern portion of La Union (Burgos, Naguilian, Bauang, Caba, Aringay, Tubao, Pugo, Santo Tomas, Rosario, Agoo)
• the rest of Quezon
• Marinduque
• northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Paluan, Abra de Ilog) including Lubang Island
• northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Pola, Victoria, Naujan, Baco, Calapan City, San Teodoro, Puerto Galera)
• the rest of Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Burias and Ticao Islands

Signal No. 1:

• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• the rest of Benguet
• Abra
• Ilocos Sur
• the rest of La Union
• the rest of Occidental Mindoro
• the rest of Oriental Mindoro
• Romblon
• the rest of Masbate
• Northern Samar
• northern portion of Samar (Santo Nino, Almagro, Tagapul-An, Tarangnan, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Matuguinao)
• northern portion of Eastern Samar (Maslog, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpo, Arteche, Jipapad)

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